e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Daily Moisturizer for oily skin
Hyaluronic Acid
Jojoba Seed Oil
Vitamin E
Niacinamide
Shea ButterAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Suitable for oily skin as niacinamide helps regulate sebum and hyaluronic acid provides essential hydration, though it does not directly target oily shine. Oat milk and allantoin offer soothing benefits, complementing the humectant action for your skin.
- The formula's inclusion of jojoba seed oil and ceramides supports overall skin barrier function, which is beneficial for maintaining balanced oily skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients and a formulation designed to minimize irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly regarded for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that effectively hydrates dry and sensitive skin, leaving it smooth and plump. It also performs well under makeup and is praised for its affordability. Some users with very oily or acne-prone skin find it too heavy or greasy, and a few mention a tacky finish or potential for clogged pores.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Keeps skin plump and hydrated all day.”
- “Helped my tight, flaky patches.”
- “Skin feels soft, smooth, and hydrated for hours.”
- “Provides long-lasting moisture.”
Lightweight, absorbs fast Mostly Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly and is lightweight.”
- “Sinks in fast, feels non-greasy.”
- “Lightweight formula absorbs quickly.”
- “Doesn't feel heavy or slick.”
Great under makeup Often Mentioned
- “Works great under makeup.”
- “Layers seamlessly under makeup.”
- “Smooth, soft base that lasts all day.”
- “Makeup stays nice all day.”
Highly affordable Often Mentioned
- “Unbeatable for such a quality product.”
- “Excellent value without breaking the bank.”
- “Affordable price compared to higher-end creams.”
Gentle on sensitive Sometimes Noted
- “Fragrance-free version is a win for sensitive skin.”
- “Non-irritating formulation.”
- “Gentle yet effective for sensitive skin.”
- “No fragrance too which is also great for my sensitive skin.”
Heavy for oily Sometimes Noted
- “Left my face feeling greasy rather than smooth.”
- “The texture felt heavy on my skin.”
- “It felt too thick and greasy.”
May clog pores Rarely Noted
- “Tend to clog my pores and cause irritation.”
- “Not ideal for my specific facial skin type.”
- “Interferes with oily zones.”
Tacky residue Rarely Noted
- “Skin felt tacky and weighed down.”
- “Sticky after-feel.”
- “I can feel this sitting on my face.”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, walmart.com, elfcosmetics.com, lemon8-app.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does e.l.f. Holy Hydration! work for oily skin?
This moisturizer works for oily skin, though other products fit it better because niacinamide and hyaluronic acid help regulate sebum and hydrate, but it lacks direct targeting for oily shine. Oily skin needs a lightweight texture with peptides, hydrating agents, and no heavy oils to manage shine and maintain a healthy complexion.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps regulate sebum and hyaluronic acid provides essential hydration, while oat milk, allantoin, jojoba seed oil, and ceramides soothe the skin and support its barrier. To fit oily skin even better, a moisturizer of this type needs peptides and hydrating agents in a lightweight texture with no heavy oils.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
What does Jojoba Seed Oil do for oily skin?
Jojoba seed oil helps balance oily skin by providing lightweight moisture that is unlikely to clog pores. It may also calm redness and soothe irritation thanks to its natural soothing properties.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2013
Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This moisturizer goes as the third step in your morning routine after a cleanser and a hydrating toner, and as the final step in your evening routine after your treatment. It helps provide essential hydration and supports your skin barrier, though oily skin often benefits from lightweight hydrators with oil-controlling ingredients that specifically target shine.
Can I use this moisturizer with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe your skin and keep it comfortable. A product for oily skin used alongside treatments like retinol needs barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide to keep the skin balanced while lowering the chance of irritation.
How often should I use this moisturizer?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine, since it helps keep your skin balanced and hydrated. Daily application improves skin moisture and barrier function while remaining gentle on your skin.
Health Science Reports, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores for oily skin, as it has a low chance of causing blocked pores based on reviewer feedback. However, because it contains shea butter and oils, it may feel a bit heavy for some people with oily skin. Oily skin often does best with lightweight, oil-free gel lotions that contain oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid.
Can I use this moisturizer around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizer on your body, but the skin around your eyes is much thinner and more sensitive than facial skin. A product of this type needs a lighter formula with specialized soothing and firming ingredients to safely target the delicate eye area.
Is this moisturizer fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical application of tocopherol succinate ethosomal gel decreased erythema, melanin, and sebum levels while improving moisture content and skin elasticity in 34 human women.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.
Biomolecules, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Oat Milk, Ceramides, Stearic Acid, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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